Kurdistan’s Weekly Brief April 19

Turkey (Bakur or North of Kurdistan)

Around 100 people from Lice have headed to the operation area as human shields against the intense bombing that started immediately after a “curfew” was declared in 10 villages in Amed’s Silvan district. The human shields heading to Şêlima and Hindês under bombardment with fighter jets have arrived in Zarê village between Lice and Silvan despite attempts at stopping them.

Lifting immunity on Kurdish MPs: In a press conference Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş said” Parties have their own prerogative. They will decide for themselves. But it is a grave mistake to support such an apparent political revenge attempt with such enthusiasm”

Turkish government imposed curfews in several Kurdish districts. In Silopi district of Şırnak where a renewed curfew remains in place for 15 days despite there being no fighting, state forces have demolished hundreds of houses with heavy construction equipment.

Police raided the buildings of Party of Democratic Regions (DBP) Amed provincial branch and Kayapınar district branch and several homes including those of DBP provincial co-chair Ali Şimşek in the morning hours today. Police came to the provincial branch building in Amed’s Bağlar district and started searching the building. A large group of police attended the raid and several anti-riot and armored vehicles were dispatched to the area of the building against a possible protest.

Syria (Rojava or West of Kurdistan)

A Representation Office of the Rojava, West Kurdistan administration has been opened in Sweden’s capital city Stockholm with a ceremony attended by MPs, NGO representatives and hundreds of people from Kurdistan, Turkey and Sweden. Tev-Dem Co-chair Sinem Muhammed and Assyrian National Council Chair Bassam İshak cut the ceremonial ribbon. YPJ Commander Nesrin Abdullah, Cizire Canton Foreign Minister Abdulkerim Omar and the Greens Foreign Policy Representative Valter Mutt attended the ceremony.

Shekh Maqsoud, Aleppo: 138 people were killed in the attacks, 912 others were wounded. Aleppo’s Shekh Meqsud neighbourhood has been imposed to attacks from the Syrian National Council (SNC) factions, causing casualties and damage in the neighborhood. Extremist groups admitted last week of using chemical weapons against the Kurds.

Amude: The General Coordination of Three Cantons of Rojava (GCTCR) declared that they did not recognize any election run by the Assad regime and would not allow them to be held in the areas under their control. With regard to the elections, the GCTCR published the followingstatement.

Iraq (Bashur or South of Kurdistan)

S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the United States will allocate $415 million USD in financial aid to Peshmerga forces after Kurdish officials appealed to the U.S. for financial aid. Carter arrived in Baghdad on Monday (April 18) to discuss the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants with Iraqi officials and U.S. military commanders, as Washington looks for ways to build on recent gains against the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani visited Washington and held meetings with U.S. officials. Talabani addressed the War on ISIS, Economy and political situation in Kurdistan.

At least three members of Iraqi Parliament were wounded Wednesday April 13 as the emergency sessions erupted into chaos. MP Ashwaq Jaff told Millet Press that fighting broke out between a number of Kurdish and Shiite State of Law coalition parliamentarians after a member of the latter insulted Kurds and Anfal Martyrs which led to fighting between Kurdish and Shiite lawmakers”.

Iran (Rojhelat or East of Kurdistan)

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has reported that the situation of medical facilities in Mahabad prison is very inappropriate and lack of medical staff has put the ill prisoners in trouble. prisoners of Mahabad prison reportedly complained against the lack of medical staff after office hours and lack of medicines and medical equipment.

Afshin Sohrabzadeh, the Kurdish prisoner who is suffering from colon cancer, respiratory problems and internal bleeding, has reportedly sewed his lips and is on a hunger strike to protest the indifference of the Minab Prison’s authorities with regard to his request for medical leave.

According to Xendan News Agency, tens of Kurdish tradesmen have been arrested and 40 horses have been shot by the Iranian security forces in Oshnaviyeh and Hewraman in recent days.